Haven Hospice Volunteer Orientation Instructor, Dr. Scott Medley, recently led his 100th volunteer orientation.
Dr. Medley began volunteering with Haven 11 years ago after a long career in medicine. After retiring from practicing in 2012, he joined the Haven team as a bedside volunteer in 2015 and, after serving patients and families at the bedside for a few years, shifted into a teaching role, using his wealth of knowledge to help prepare volunteers for their experience at Haven.
Prior to retirement, Dr. Medley started the Gainesville Family Medicine program at the University of Florida in 1979; worked in private practice for 20 years; established Gainesville Family Physicians, which is still open for patients today; practiced for seven years as a hospitalist at Alachua General Hospital; and spent the last five years of his career as the Chief Medical Officer at North Florida Regional Medical Center, which is now HCA North Florida.
In addition, Dr. Medley is a veteran, having served in the United States Army Medical Corps from 1972 to 1977. He joined upon graduation from the University of Kentucky’s medical school and served mostly in major medical centers. He jokes about being called “Major Medical Medley” in the time he served our country.
Having decades of medical experience, Dr. Medley, who is 78 years old, often forms a special bond with the medical students that come to volunteer at Haven. He understands that medical students are often learning to heal patients from ailments. He explains that hospice care isn’t about healing the body in a traditional sense, but that Haven does heal hospice patients, just in a different way.
“One of the first things I tell our new volunteers is that their experience at Haven is going to be life-changing. They’re going to have wonderful relationships with patients, families and caregivers,” said Dr. Medley. “I am also blunt with them: ‘These patients are going to die. But it is our job to help give people a good death… the best that we possibly can. We help them enjoy their life until
the last minute. That’s what we are all about at Haven.
We are not curing here, but we are providing comfort and compassion.’” He added, “It’s certainly healing, just in another way, for the patients, of course. But also hopefully for their loved ones.”
He explains that he helped make people better for 40 years of medical practice and many of the students, who comprise a large portion of Haven’s volunteer force, may go on to do that. But hospice care is unique and it’s a “pivot” from what the majority of physicians do in their day-to-day careers.
All of Haven’s volunteers—medical students or otherwise—undergo a thorough orientation similar to the staff orientation, overseen by volunteer coordinators. Haven’s volunteer force includes people who choose to contribute in many capacities, including, but not limited to, veteran, music, administrative, resale, pet, bedside and many other volunteer roles.
“Volunteers are extremely important to Haven Hospice. They are the heart and soul of the operation. I am so very proud of each of them and proud of the quality of volunteers we have,” said Dr. Medley, who has now trained 1,097 students in 100 orientations (and counting) over the last decade. “I’ve really enjoyed training volunteers at Haven and hope I’ve impacted a lot of lives.”
Haven Volunteer Coordinator Michael Maloney emphasizes Dr. Medley’s impact on volunteers and on Haven as an organization: “Thousands of souls have been touched by Dr. Medley’s mentorship. He is a genuine treasure and Haven is fortunate to have him. He is vital in introducing our new volunteers to their roles at Haven and inspiring them as they join our team. We are blessed to have him.”
Dr. Medley received his 10-year volunteer pin last year and plans to keep educating incoming Haven Hospice volunteers on the ins-and-outs of volunteering in hospice and palliative care settings.
Dr. Medley’s wife Faye has also contributed to healthcare, the community, and Haven, having worked as a nurse for many years, in addition to teaching nursing at the University of Florida for 25 years and volunteering to serve Haven patients in their homes. He shared that the Haven experience was moving and valuable for her as well. Dr. and Mrs. Medley recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Haven extends a huge “thank you” to Dr. Medley for his dedication to the Haven Hospice mission and congratulations on reaching a teaching milestone of 100 volunteer orientations!